Burn-in tool



C. R. TERRY BURN-IN TOOL May 17, 1949.

Filed Jan. 25, 1948 .Fl g. 4.

Char/es Road/van Terry IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BURN-IN TOOL Charles-Roadnan Terry, Tulsa, Okla.

Application'January 23,1948, Serial No. 3,932

l'Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in so called burn-in tools such as are commonly employed by furniture workers, carpenters, or the like for applying hard varnish, filling in cracks, and for similar other purposes, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described, wherein the temperature of the burning blade may be easily and conveniently controlled.

Conventional burn-in tools usually derive their source of heat from an electric element with which they are provided, the heat from this element being conducted directly to the tool blade. As a result, the blade often becomes heated to an excessive temperature so that the supply of current to the electric element must be temporarily discontinued, which procedure of course, involves not only inconvenience to the workmen, but also, a considerable loss of time.

It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to eliminate this disadvantage by providing, as aforesaid, a burn-in tool equipped with means for varying thermal conductivity between the heating element and the working blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide a burn-in tool which is simple in construction, which may be easily and conveniently manipulated, which will not easily become damaged, and which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects in view and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof, showing the same in position for maximum thermal conductivity,

Figure 3 is a side elevational View, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but illustrating the invention in position for reduced thermal conductivity, and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a burn-in tool designated generally by the reference character IO, the same embodying in its construction a suitable shank ll provided at one end thereof with a handle l2, while the remaining end portion 13 of the shank contains a suitable heating unit, such as for example, as electric heating element 14.

If desired, the heating unit l3 may be formed separately from the shank I l and may be secured thereto by means of suitable straps l5 and fastening bolts or rivets I6.

An applicator blade or burn-in blade 11 is secured at one end thereof to the shank H by one of the bolts 5, this blade being heated by the unit l3 and in conventional tools, being disposed immediately adjacent to and in contact with the heating unit, so as to assure the utmost thermal conductivity between the heating unit and the blade.

However, the essence of novelty in the invention resides in provision of means for varying the thermal conductivity between the unit l3 and the blade [1, this being accomplished by providing an adjusting screw it in the unit [3, which screw is engageable with the free end portion of the blade l'l, substantially as shown.

It should be understood that the blade I! is of a resilient nature, normally being urged by its inherent resiliency in contact with the adjacent strap l5 of the heating unit I3. This is best shown in the accompanying Figure 2, wherein it will be apparent that maximum amount of thermal conductivity will exist between the heating unit I3 and the blade I1, since the parts are in contact.

However, when it is desired to decrease the thermal conductivity between the heating unit 13 and the blade H, the adjusting screw I8 is simply tightened so that by its engagement with the blade H, the latter is forced, against its resiliency, from the adjacent strap [5. Accordingly, a space will exist between the blade i! and the adjacent strap [5 of the heating unit [3 and thermal conductivity will thus be retarded. Moreover, by increasing or decreasing the space between the blade I1 and the adjacent strap l5, the extent of thermal conductivity may be varied as desired.

Needless to say, the element l4 receives its supply or current through the medium of a suitable conductor l9 which extends outwardly through the handle l2, as will be clearly apparent.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a burn-in tool, the combination of a heated shank, a resilient work engaging blade secured at one end thereof to said shank and disposed at one side of the latter, said blade being urged by its resiliency in contact with the side of said shank but being adjustable from a position where a major portion of its length contacts said shank to a variably spaced position relative thereto, and means for adjusting said blade comprising a screw CHARLES ROADNAN TERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,192,389 Chandler July 25, 1916 1,603,208 Keiter Oct. 12, 1926 1,904,051 Jones Apr. 18, 1933 2,007,596 Burke July 9, 1935 

